Having co-founded Dig Deep, eight years ago, I was
incredibly excited about heading back to Kenya to see the work that Dig Deep is
doing on the ground and to see the impact in the communities and schools we
work with. It was four years since my last visit and although I have heard of
progress through our monthly trustee meetings there is nothing like seeing and
hearing the stories first hand.
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| Co-founders Jo Zeevi and Peter Fitzsimmons in the early days of Dig Deep |
16 million people lack access to clean water in Kenya and
over 43% of Kenya’s rural population does not have access to basic sanitation.
Dig Deep's work is focused around the Narok county by the Maasai Mara and Bomet
in the west of the country.
Day one in the field saw us visiting the Endonyo Narasha
community which is the first project that Dig Deep fundraised for back in 2007.
Unfortunately, due to the incredibly high fluoride levels in the water, the
wind pump installed in the borehole has badly corroded and is difficult to
maintain. As Dig Deep continues to monitor the projects we have implemented we
receive information on whether something happens with a project beyond the
means of the communities. We then work with the community to see what the most
appropriate solution is.
Endonyo Narasha opted to have a new technology installed
- community rainwater harvesting. This is an incredibly simple system where a
large roof collects the rain water and it is stored in enormous concrete tanks
which can be easily treated. There is estimated to be enough water for 15litres
of water for each person per day. They are also in discussions around donating
the wind pump to another community we work with that does not have a problem
with fluoride in the water, so nothing will go to waste.
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| The Community Rainwater Harvester at Edonyo Narash |
We were there for the opening ceremony of the community
rainwater harvesting where the Water Committee officially took control of the
project and talked at length about the provisions being made for maintenance.
We also talked through the training that Dig Deep will provide for community
members so that they can independently manage the system. We met in the
corrugated church, sheltering us from the blazing sun. After many introductions
in English, Swahili and Ma (the local Maasai language) everyone filed down to
the tap stands where there were queues of women ready to fill their containers.
Brightly coloured kangas and jingling beaded jewellery gave the scene a
carnival feel as school children sang and the water was released.
There were some marked changes since we were there seven
years ago. A new kindergarten, a bigger central market and lots of new faces.
The water committee and chief seemed fully engaged and I felt proud of the long
term relationships that Dig Deep creates with the communities we partner with. This
feeling was echoed time and again as the reputation of the charity resulted in
unprompted discussions with everyone we met about the way that we work and the
sustainability and success of the projects.
This was the beginning of several meetings we attended in
the Mara region, each with the Water Committees and wider community in
attendance where everyone welcomed us and our essential partners on the ground, Olare Orok Motorogi Trust. Wherever
we went they were praying for rain as the land was dusty, dry and barren. The
drought had continued longer than anticipated and the communities are keen to
move quickly with new projects, more than willing to provide their contribution
upfront.
We travelled with Dig Deep's Country Manager Carol who is
working incredibly hard to engage and empower communities. From village elders
and women's groups to school children, Carol welcomes everyone's input and
encourages debate. I felt a huge sense of pride as an elderly lady announced to
the community how much of a role model Carol is and how this demonstrates the
need for children to receive an education (which isn't possible without the
basic access to water) so that they can create change within their own
communities. This highlights perfectly the work that Dig Deep does to break the
cycle of poverty.
Our time in the Mara left me chomping at the bit to
continue our journey to Bomet county and see how we are working in a completely different environment; within
towns, a place that is green and lush but still suffers from water scarcity.
------------
We left the Mara on a high as the long awaited rains came
and having felt the momentum of the work there building. As we journeyed to Ndanai in Bomet County I
was full of anticipation as I had never been to this area before, with Dig Deep
having started to operate in the region only three years ago. We were greeted
by Justice, our local Dig Deep Officer in Ndanai, who has been steadily engaged
with the communities and schools throughout the projects. This helps us to
monitor the projects and impacts accurately.
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| Students prepare to recite their poem at Township School |
We saw the hand washing facilities being actively used in
each of the schools that we visited and the head teachers were proud to speak
of the impact on attendance, the reduction of diseases and the increase in
enrolment due to improved facilities for the children. The schools are proud of
the infrastructure and are no longer embarrassed to tell students they have to
use a collapsing pit latrine with no water to wash their hands. Kagasik Girls
School is a great example of improvement. As a result of our water and toilet projects
they have since been able to attract investment from regional governments
resulting in boarding enrolment having increased from 50 girls to over 200.
The Township School Headmaster was beaming as he talked
through the impact on test results due to the decline of illness (they had the
highest performing student in the county). Even though our visit was
unannounced they were quick to want to demonstrate how the hygiene training had
affected the pupils. Amidst shining smiles and shrieks of enthusiasm we saw
demonstrations of how to wash your hands properly and played games of get the
‘poo in the loo’ (equivalent to kicking the ball through the goal).
For me the most powerful moment was when Standard 5 started
to recite the poem they had written themselves about Dig Deep, sanitation and giving
thanks. It was conveyed with such pleasure and sincerity it caught me off guard
and I was struck by the huge impact and meaning of Dig Deep’s work and
reputation. It is funny how the things you aren’t prepared for can sometimes
have the biggest affect. Of course I blinked rapidly to ensure there wasn’t a
tear in my eye and clapped and laughed along with encouragement.
Throughout our trip as we drove through the Mara and
Bomet regions we passed boreholes and water points powered by solar, water
kiosks selling water, rainwater harvesting in schools and areas where water has
been piped around the village. I saw children with plastic mugs drinking
straight from the taps and children thoroughly washing their hands after using
the latrines, I saw women collecting the water and people looking healthy and
strong. This is all the work of Dig Deep and its partners. When I remember back
to when it all began I give huge thanks to those who have supported the charity
over the years. The impact is real and tangible. I can’t wait to see even
bigger changes on my next visit, and I have no doubt that it will be
transformational.
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